Influence of nutrition on biochemical sea water adaptation of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri richardson).

Glutamate dehydrogenase activity in the liver of the rainbow trout increases when the animals are starved for four weeks. Glutamate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity in the kidney of rainbow trout kept in sea water (20% S) is significantly higher than in the kidney of rainbow trout kept in fresh water. Gill Na/K-ATPase activity in the rainbow trout is reduced significantly (44%) by starvation for four weeks. Most of the free amino acids investigated in the white muscle of the rainbow trout were present in significantly higher concentrations in animals fed in sea water than in animals fed in fresh water. The concentrations of these amino acids are even higher in the muscle of starved animals held in sea water than in fed animals held in sea water.